Expandable modular rack design

ABSTRACT

An expandable rack for supporting and/or storing articles and/or article housing structured and arranged to transition from a collapsed position to an extended position is disclosed. The rack is suitable for use in a confined space such as the interior of a vehicle. The rack comprises a plurality of substantially vertical support posts and a plurality of foldable substantially horizontal frame members that are pivotally connected between adjacent substantially vertical support posts. The horizontal frame members are moveable from a collapsed folded position, that is adjacent to and substantially vertical along a vertical support post, to an extended unfolded position, that is substantially perpendicular to the support post. The expandable rack can comprise integral fasteners. A pallet mounted expandable rack system and a method for deploying an expandable rack within a vehicle are also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to racks for supporting and/or storingarticles, and more particularly, relates to expandable racks structuredand arranged to transition from a collapsed folded position to anextended unfolded position.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Article supporting/storing racks are conventionally known. Such articlescan include computers, computer components, electrical components,electrical, chemical, magnetic and biological sensors, radar equipment,and the like. A conventional rack for supporting and/or storing sucharticles typically comprises stationary vertical posts and fixedhorizontal bracings that support the articles. Such conventional rackstypically take up a significant amount of space, are not easily portableand may require substantial assembly time.

It is often desired to use articles such as computers, computercomponents, electrical components, electrical, chemical, magnetic andbiological sensors and radar equipment within a confined space such as avehicle. It is also often desired to organize such components bysupporting and storing them in racks to optimize space. Conventionalassembled racks can be difficult to maneuver into confined spaces,especially through doorways, manholes or around sharp corners. Racksystems that comprise disassembled parts, although easy to carry into aconfined space, often require considerable time to reassemble within adesired location. Accordingly, there is identified a need for animproved rack capable of supporting and/or storing articles that iseasily transportable into a confined space such as a vehicle and isquickly assembled within the confined space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is to provide an expandable rackstructured and arranged to transition from a collapsed folded positionto an extended unfolded position.

The expandable rack can comprise a plurality of substantially verticalsupport posts, and a plurality of foldable substantially horizontalframe members pivotally connected between adjacent substantiallyvertical support posts, wherein at least one of the foldablesubstantially horizontal frame members is moveable from a collapsedfolded position adjacent to and substantially aligned with the verticalsupport posts to an extended unfolded position substantiallyperpendicular to the vertical support posts. The expandable rack caninclude at least one shelf structured and arranged to support an articleand/or an article housing.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a transportablepallet mounted expandable rack system for deployment in a vehicle. Thepallet mounted rack system can comprise a pallet, and an expandable rackremoveably mounted on the pallet. The rack can comprise a plurality ofsubstantially vertical support posts, and a plurality of foldablesubstantially horizontal frame members pivotally connected betweenadjacent substantially vertical support posts wherein at least one ofthe foldable substantially horizontal frame members is moveable from acollapsed folded position adjacent to and substantially aligned with thevertical support posts to an extended unfolded position substantiallyperpendicular to the vertical support posts.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a method ofdeploying an expandable rack within a vehicle. The method can comprisethe steps of providing an expandable rack in a collapsed position withina vehicle interior, transitioning the expandable rack from the collapsedfolded position to an extended unfolded position, and securing the rackto the interior of the vehicle. The expandable rack can comprise aplurality of substantially vertical support posts, and a plurality offoldable substantially horizontal frame members pivotally connectedbetween adjacent substantially vertical support posts wherein at leastone of the foldable substantially horizontal frame members is moveablefrom a collapsed folded position adjacent to and substantially alignedwith the vertical support posts to an extended unfolded positionsubstantially perpendicular to the vertical support posts.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be more fullyunderstood following a review of this specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an expandable rack in the verticallycollapsed and horizontally collapsed position in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an expandable rack in the verticallyextended and horizontally collapsed position in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an expandable rack in the verticallyextended and partially horizontally extended position in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an expandable rack in the verticallyextended and partially horizontally extended position in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an expandable rack in the verticallyextended and horizontally extended position in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged portion of the perspective view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an expandable rack in the verticallyextended and horizontally extended position and a shelf partiallyengaged therein in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an expandable rack in the verticallyextended and horizontally extended position and a shelf fully engagedtherein in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an expandable rack in the verticallyextended and horizontally extended position and a shelf slideablypositioned partially outside the rack in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an expandable rack in the verticallyextended and horizontally extended position and a shelf supporting anarticle housing that is slideably positioned partially outside the rackin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an expandable rack in the verticallyextended and horizontally extended position and a shelf rotatablysupporting an article housing that is slideably positioned partiallyoutside the rack in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an interior of a vehicle including anexpandable rack in the vertically extended and horizontally extendedposition and a pallet comprising a second expandable rack, shelves andarticle housing in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an interior of a vehicle including anexpandable rack in the vertically extended and horizontally extendedposition with multiple shelves supporting article housings and a palletin accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-13, an expandable rack 20, in accordance with thepresent invention, is shown. The rack 20 is structured and arranged totransition from a collapsed folded position to an extended unfoldedposition within a confined area such as within the interior of avehicle. As used herein, the term “vehicle” includes aircraft, such asplanes, helicopters, and the like, watercraft, such as submarines,ships, boats, and the like, and land vehicles such as cars, trucks,buses and vans, and the like. The rack 20 is structured to supportand/or store articles and/or article housings. As used herein, the term“article” includes any item that could be housed within a storage rack,such as computers, computer components, electrical components,electrical, chemical, magnetic and biological sensors and radarequipment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rack 20 comprises a plurality of substantiallyvertical support posts. The rack 20 can comprise a left front verticalsupport post 22, a right front vertical support post 24, a left rearvertical support post 26 and a right rear vertical support post 28. Thevertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 can be made of any suitablematerial such as metal and/or a polymeric composition. Each verticalsupport post 22, 24, 26 and 28 comprises an upper end 34, a lower end 36and a middle section 38 located along the vertical support post 22, 24,26 and 28 between the upper end 34 and the lower end 36. Although theupper end 34, the lower end 36 and the middle section 38 are shown inFIG. 1 with reference to one vertical support post, it is appreciatedherein that each vertical support post 22, 24, 26 and 28 can comprisecorresponding upper and lower ends and middle sections. In oneembodiment, the lower end 36 of each vertical support post 22, 24, 26and 28 is configured to receive a floor fastener 42 within its interior,the floor fastener 42 being optionally slideable within a groove 41 inthe floor, as will be discussed herein. The vertical support posts 22,24, 26 and 28 can comprise any cross-sectional shape such as square,rectangular, circular, triangular, hexagonal and the like. The verticalsupport posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 can comprise a hollow interior or can besolid throughout, depending on the configuration of the rack 20. Thevertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 can comprise a plurality ofholes 40 suitable for receiving pegs or shelving fasteners as will alsobe discussed herein.

Still referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment the vertical support posts22, 24, 26 and 28 are telescopic and are capable of transitioning from avertically collapsed position, as shown in FIG. 1, to a verticallyextended position, as shown in FIG. 2 along the axis extending betweenthe upper end 34 of the vertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 and thelower end 36 of the vertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28. Thetelescopic vertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 can comprise anynumber of concentrically nesting sections, such as a first section 30that extends into an interior of a second section 32 in the verticallycollapsed position. Each vertical support post 22, 24, 26 and 28 cancomprise a first telescopic section 30 having an outer diameter that issized to fit within an interior diameter of a second telescopic section32.

The height of the vertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 can be anysuitable height, such as a height that is taller than the height ofseveral articles and/or article housings stacked on top of each other.For example, the vertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 can have avertically collapsed height VH_(c), shown in FIG. 1, of from about 36 toabout 60 inches, such as from about 48 to about 52 inches.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the vertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28can have any desired width and length such that the rack 20 is easilyportable but strong enough to support a plurality of articles housedwithin the rack 20. In one embodiment, the vertical support posts 22,24, 26 and 28 have a width VW and a length is the horizontal directionVL both as shown in FIG. 1, of from about 1 to about 4 inches, such asfrom about 2 to about 2½ inches. In another embodiment, the verticalsupport posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 can have a vertically collapsed heightVH_(c), shown in FIG. 1, of from about 30 to 54 inches, such as fromabout 46 to about 47 inches.

In one embodiment, a user can manually pull the vertical support posts22, 24, 26 and 28 from a vertically collapsed position, as shown in FIG.1, to a vertically extended position, as shown in FIG. 2. When the rack20 is extended vertically, as shown in FIG. 2, the vertical supportposts 22, 24, 26 and 28 can have a vertically extended height VH_(e),shown in FIG. 2, of from about 60 to about 108 inches, such as fromabout 72 to about 87 inches. In one embodiment, the height of thevertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 in the vertically extendedposition is from 2 to 5 times longer than the height of the verticalsupport posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 in the vertically collapsed position,such as from 3 to 4 times longer. Once a user has extended the rack 20from the vertically collapsed position to the vertically extendedposition, the rack 20 can lock in position by a vertical lockingmechanism 44. The vertical locking mechanism 44 can comprise anysuitable fastener such as a pin(s) that extends into a hole(s) 40 withinthe vertical support post(s) 22, 24, 26 and 28, a sliding mechanism thatengages to hold the first section 30 and the second section 32 of thevertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 in place, and/or a frictionresistance fit between the first section 30 and the second section 32 ofthe vertical support post 22, 24, 26 and 28. One or more verticalsupport posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 may comprise a vertical lockingmechanism 44 positioned at any desired location, such as between theupper end 34 and the lower end 36 or at about the middle section 38. Thevertical locking mechanism 44 can be positioned on an adjacent surfaceto the holes 40 suitable for receiving pegs or shelving fasteners. Inanother embodiment, once the rack 20 has been expanded to the verticallyexpanded position, it can be positioned within the orientation of thefloor fasteners 42, as shown in FIG. 2.

Once the rack 20 has been expanded to the vertically expanded position,as shown in FIG. 2, a user can transition the rack 20 from ahorizontally collapsed position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to apartially horizontally extended position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, andsubsequently to a fully horizontally extended position, as shown inFIGS. 5-13.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rack 20 comprises a plurality of foldablesubstantially horizontal frame members 56A and 56B, 58A and 58B, and 60Aand 60B. As shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal frame members 56A and 56B,58A and 58B, and 60A and 60B are each pivotally attached to adjacentvertical support posts 22, 24, 26 or 28 by an integral pivoting fastener52. In the horizontally collapsed position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,each horizontal frame member 56A and 56B, 58A and 58B, and 60A and 60Bis positioned adjacent to and extending substantially vertical along anadjacent vertical support post 22, 24, 26 or 28. Fastener 52 allows eachhorizontal frame member 56A and 56B, 58A and 58B, and 60A and 60B topivot up to 90° with respect to the vertical support posts 22, 24, 26and 28 when the rack 20 is transitioned from the horizontally collapsedposition to the horizontally extended position. As shown in FIG. 5, inthe fully horizontally extended position, the horizontal frame members56A and 56B, 58A and 58B, and 60A and 60B are substantiallyperpendicular to the vertical frame members 22, 24, 26 and 28. Fastener52 can comprise any suitable fastener or fastening means, such as a nutand bolt system, a grommet, a ball and socket joint, hinge and pin, orthe like. In one embodiment, the fastener 52 can comprise a horizontallocking mechanism to lock the horizontal frame members 56A and 56B, 58Aand 58B, and 60A and 60B perpendicular to the vertical support posts 22,24, 26 and 28 in the fully horizontally extended position.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the rack 20 can comprise a plurality of upperhorizontal frame members 56A and 56B positioned at about the upper end34 of the vertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 and extending betweenadjacent vertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28. The rack 20 cancomprise a plurality of lower horizontal frame members 60A and 60Bpositioned at about the lower end 36 of the vertical support posts 22,24, 26 and 28, extending between adjacent vertical support posts 22, 24,26 or 28. The rack 20 can further comprise a plurality of middlehorizontal frame members 58A and 58B positioned vertically between theupper end 34 and the lower end 36 of the vertical support posts 22, 24,26 and 28 and extending between adjacent vertical support posts 22, 24,26 and 28. In one embodiment, the rack 20 comprises a plurality of upperhorizontal frame members 56A and 56B and a plurality of lower horizontalframe members 60A and 60B. The rack 20 can comprise an upper horizontalframe member 56A and 56B extending between each adjacent verticalsupport post, a middle horizontal frame member 58A and 58B extendingbetween each adjacent vertical support post, and/or a lower horizontalframe member 60A and 60B extending between each adjacent verticalsupport post. In one embodiment, the rack 20 may comprise a middlehorizontal frame member 58A and 58B extending between the left frontvertical support post 22 and the left rear vertical support post 26, amiddle horizontal frame member 58A and 58B extending between the leftrear vertical support post 26 and the right rear vertical support post28, and a middle horizontal frame member 58A and 58B extending betweenthe right rear vertical support post 28 and the right front verticalsupport post 24.

Still referring to FIGS. 3-5, in one embodiment, the left front verticalsupport post 22 and the right front vertical support post 24 are not bejoined by a middle horizontal frame member. In this embodiment, the leftfront vertical support post 22 and the right front vertical support post24 having no middle horizontal frame member positioned therebetween canbe considered the “front” of the rack 20 and can be disposed to faceaway from an adjacent wall when installed. This can allow large articlesto pass into the interior of the rack 20 as will be described herein. Itwill be appreciated, however, that the rack can be installed having anydesired orientation depending on the needs of the user.

Still referring to FIGS. 3-5, multiple middle horizontal frame members58A and 58B may be positioned between adjacent vertical support postsand between the upper horizontal frame members 56A and 56B and the lowerframe members 60A and 60B. In one embodiment, from 1 to 10 sets ofmiddle frame members 58A and 58B, such as from 1 to 3 middle framemembers 58A and 58B, may be positioned between adjacent vertical supportposts and between the upper horizontal frame members 56A and 56B and thelower frame members 60A and 60B. As used herein, the term “set of middleframe members” means a plurality of middle frame members extendingbetween adjacent vertical support posts in substantially the samehorizontal plane.

As shown in FIGS. 4-5, each horizontal frame member can comprise atleast two portions 56A and 56B, 58A and 58B, and 60A and 60Brespectively. The first portion 56A, 58A and 60A of the horizontal framemember and the second portion 56B, 58B and 60B are hinged 54 at alocation along the horizontal frame member between adjacent verticalsupport posts 22, 24, 26 or 28. The hinging mechanism 54 can be integralto the first portion 56A, 58A and 60A of the horizontal frame membersand integral to the second portion 56B, 58B and 60B of the horizontalframe members. The hinging mechanism 54 can comprise a mechanical hinge,a living hinge, or a material having a greater degree of flexibilitythan the material comprising the first portion 56A, 58A and 60A and thesecond portion 56B, 58B and 60B. The hinging mechanism 54 and pivotingfastener 52 allows each of the horizontal frame members 56A and 56B, 58Aand 58B, and 60A and 60B to transition from a horizontally collapsedposition to a horizontally expanded position when a force is applied torack 20 in the side-to-side direction. In one embodiment, the hingingmechanism 54 allows first portion 56A, 58A and 60A to rotate 90° in afirst direction and second portion 56B, 58B and 60B to rotate 90° in asecond direction that is opposite the first direction such that firstportion 56A, 58A and 60A and the second portion 56B, 58B and 60B arealigned in substantially the same horizontal plane when rack 20 is fullyhorizontally extended, as shown in FIG. 5.

Again referring to FIG. 1, when the rack 20 is in the horizontallycollapsed position, each hinged horizontal frame member is foldable suchthat first surface 56C, 58C and 60C of first portion 56A, 58A and 60A ispositioned substantially parallel to second surface 56D, 58D and 60D ofsecond portion 56B, 58B and 60B in the horizontally collapsed position.When the rack 20 is transitioned to a horizontally extended position, asshown in FIG. 5, the first surface 56C, 58C and 60C of first portion56A, 58A and 60A is positioned in substantially the same horizontalplane as the second surface 56D, 58D and 60D of second portion 56B, 58Band 60B in the fully horizontally expanded position.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper horizontal frame members 56A and58B and the lower horizontal frame members 60A and 60B can be hinged inopposite directions to allow for a more compact collapsed rack position.In one embodiment, the upper horizontal frame members 56A and 56B arehinged such that hinging mechanism 54 angles first portion 56A andsecond portion 56B downward toward the lower end 36 of the verticalsupport posts 22, 24, 26, and 28. The lower horizontal frame members 60Aand 60B can be hinged such that hinging mechanism 54 angles the firstportion 60A and the second portion 60B upwards toward the upper end 34of the vertical support posts 22, 24, 26, and 28. By hinging the upperhorizontal frame members 56A and 56B downward and the lower horizontalframe members 60A and 60B upwards, the upper horizontal frame members56A and 56B and the lower horizontal frame members 60A and 60B do notextend beyond the vertical support posts 22, 24, 26, and 28 in thehorizontally collapsed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The middlehorizontal frame members 58A and 58B can be hinged in the same directionas either the upper horizontal frame members 56A and 56B or the lowerhorizontal frame members 60A and 60B depending on the desired placementof the middle horizontal frame members 58A and 58B along the verticalsupport posts 22, 24, 26 and 28. In one embodiment, if multiple sets ofmiddle horizontal frame members 58A and 58B are positioned along thevertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28, at least one set of middlehorizontal frame members 58A and 58B can be hinged upwards and at leastone other set of middle horizontal frame members 58A and 58B can behinged downwards.

As shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal frame members 56A and 56B, 58A and58B and 60A and 60B can have any desired length, width and height suchthat the rack 20 is easily portable but strong enough to support aplurality of articles housed within the rack 20. The length of thehorizontal frame members 56A and 56B, 58A and 58B and 60A and 60B can beany suitable length, such as a length that is longer than the length ofan article and/or article housing. For example, the horizontal framemembers 56A and 56B, 58A and 58B and 60A and 60B can have a horizontallycollapsed length HL_(c), shown in FIG. 1, of from about 4 to about 16inches, such as from about 8 to about 10 inches. The horizontal framemembers 56A and 56B, 58A and 58B and 60A and 60B can have a horizontallyextended length HL_(e), as shown in FIG. 5, of from about 22 to about 40inches, such as from about 35 to about 36 inches. In one embodiment, thelength of the horizontal frame members 56A and 56B, 58A and 58B and 60Aand 60B in the horizontally extended position is from 2 to 5 timeslonger than the length of the horizontal frame members 56A and 56B, 58Aand 58B and 60A and 60B in the horizontally collapsed position, such asfrom 3 to 4 times longer.

Still referring to FIG. 5, in one embodiment, the horizontal framemembers 56A and 56B, 58A and 58B and 60A and 60B have a width HW shownin FIG. 5, of from about 1 to about 4 inches, such as from about 1½ toabout 2 inches. In another embodiment, the horizontal frame members 56Aand 56B, 58A and 58B and 60A and 60B have a height HH shown in FIG. 5,of from about 1 to about 4 inches, such as from about 1½ to about 2inches. The vertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 and the horizontalfame members 56A and 56B, 58A and 58B and 60A and 60B can be made of anysuitable material such as metal and/or a polymeric composition. In oneembodiment, the horizontal frame members 56A and 56B, 58A and 58B and60A and 60B can comprise the same material as the vertical support posts22, 24, 26 and 28. The horizontal frame members 56A and 56B, 58A and 58Band 60A and 60B can comprise a hollow interior or can be solidthroughout. The horizontal frame members can comprise a plurality ofholes suitable for receiving pegs or shelving fasteners as will bediscussed herein. The horizontal frame members 56A and 56B, 58A and 58Band 60A and 60B can comprise any shape such as square, rectangular,circular, triangular, hexagonal and the like.

Still referring to FIG. 5, in one embodiment, a user can manually pullthe rack 20 from into the fully horizontally extended position, as shownin FIG. 5. Once the rack 20 is fully extended from the horizontallycollapsed position to the horizontally extended position, the rack 20can be locked in position by a horizontal locking mechanism 68. Althoughonly shown on the upper horizontal frame members 56A and 56B and thelower horizontal frame members 60A and 60B, it will be appreciated thatany of the horizontal frame members may include a horizontal lockingmechanism 68. In one embodiment, every horizontal frame member 56A and58B, 58A and 58B, and 60A and 60B comprise a horizontal lockingmechanism 68. The locking mechanism 68 can comprise any suitablefastener such as a pin that extends into a hole within the horizontalframe member 56A and 56B, 58A and 58B and 60A and 60B, a slidingmechanism that engages to hold the first section 56A, 58A and 60A andthe second section 56B, 58B and 60B of the horizontal frame member inplace.

By transitioning the rack 20 from the collapsed position, shown in FIG.1, to the extended position, shown in FIG. 5, the height, length andwidth of the rack 20 are each enlarged. As shown in FIG. 1, the overallheight of the rack 20 in the collapsed position VH_(c) can be from about36 to about 60 inches, such as from about 48 to about 52 inches. Asshown in FIG. 5, the overall height of the rack 20 in the extendedposition VH_(e) can be from about 60 to about 108 inches, such as fromabout 72 to about 87 inches. In one embodiment, the overall height ofthe rack 20 in the extended position can be from 2 to 5 times tallerthan the height of the rack 20 in the collapsed position, such as from 3to 4 times taller. Also shown in FIG. 1, the overall length of the rack20 in the collapsed position HL_(c) can be from about 4 to about 16inches, such as from about 8 to about 10 inches. As shown in FIG. 5, theoverall length of the rack 20 in the extended position HL_(e) can befrom about 20 to about 40 inches, such as from about 35 to about 36inches. In one embodiment, the overall length of the rack 20 in theextended position can be from 2 to 5 times taller than the length of therack 20 in the collapsed position, such as from 3 to 4 times taller. Inone embodiment, the width W_(e) of the rack 20 in the extended position,as shown in FIG. 5, increases from the width W_(c) in the collapsedposition, shown in FIG. 1, by the same amount as the length HL_(e) ofthe rack 20 in the extended position increases from the length HL_(c) inthe collapsed position. In another embodiment, in each set of horizontalframe members, two horizontal frame members may have a different lengthfrom two other horizontal frame members. In this embodiment, the widthW_(e) of the rack 20 in the extended position may be different from thelength HL_(e) of the rack 20 in the extended position. The dimensions ofthe horizontal frame members 56A and 56B, 58A and 58B and 60A and 60Bcan be selected to accommodate various sized articles. Once the rack 20has been fully extended in the vertical and horizontal directions, thevertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 can be aligned with the floorfasteners 42, as shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 6, once the rack 20 has been fully extended in thevertical direction and the horizontal direction, it can be secured tothe floor 70 by aligning the interior of at least one of the verticalsupport posts 22, 24, 26 or 28 (only vertical support posts 24 and 28shown in FIG. 6) with at least one floor fastener 42. Floor fasteners 42can be slid within a groove 41 that is recessed in or protruding fromthe floor 70. Once the floor fastener 42 is positioned at a desiredlocation, the floor fastener 42 can be secured to the floor 70 of avehicle or the like by any convenient means, such as pegs or screws.Each floor fastener 42 comprises a protrusion 72 that is configured toslideably engage the interior of a vertical support post 22, 24, 26 or28. The floor fasteners 42 can engage the interior of at least one ofthe vertical support posts 22, 24, 26 or 28 by any suitable securingmeans, such as snap pins, bolts, screws, pressure fit pins, and thelike. The floor fasteners 42 prevent rack 20 from sliding on the floor70 when a vehicle accelerates, turns, or when articles are positionedwithin the rack as will be discussed later. In one embodiment, once therack 20 is engaged with the floor fasteners 42, the lower horizontalframe members 60B can contact the floor 70. In another embodiment, thefloor fastener 42 can be slideably engaged within a groove 41 within thefloor 70. In another embodiment, the floor fastener 42 can be slid to adesired location within groove 41 on the floor 70 and subsequentlysecured in place by floor fasteners 42. In another embodiment, thegroove 41 can comprise a raised ridge that floor fastener 42 can slidealong.

As shown in FIGS. 7-9, one or more shelves 74 can be positioned withinthe interior of the rack 20. As shown in FIGS. 7-8, in one embodiment,the shelf 74 can be positioned within the interior of the rack 20 afterthe rack 20 has been secured by the horizontal locking mechanisms 68 andsecured to the floor 70 by engagement with the floor fasteners 42. Inone embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7-9, the shelf 74 can comprise a firstsurface 78 and a second surface 80 hinged together along hinge 76 toallow a greater degree of portability. The shelf 74 can comprise anysuitable dimensions, such as dimensions to allow the shelf 74 to befully contained within the vertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28. Inone embodiment, shown in FIGS. 7-9, one or more saddles 75 can bepositioned over one or more horizontal frame members, such as 60A or 60Bto assist in stabilizing the rack 20. In one embodiment, two saddles 75opposite each other in substantially the same plane can be positionedover opposite segments of the horizontal frame members, such as 60A and60B as shown in FIG. 7, or horizontal frame members 58A and 58B.

As shown in FIG. 8, the shelf 74 can be positioned to supportably engagethe vertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 and/or the horizontal framemembers 56A and 56B (not shown), 58A and 58B and/or 60A and 60B of rack20. In one embodiment, the shelf 74 can comprise a series of pegs thatcan engage a plurality of holes 40 within the vertical support posts 22,24, 26 and 28. A plurality of shelves 74 can be positioned at anylocation along the vertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28. In oneembodiment, each shelf 74 supportably engages a set of middle horizontalframe members 58A and 58B.

In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 9, the shelf 74 can comprise atleast two sliding mechanisms 82 positioned on the underside 84 of theshelf 74 that are fixably attached to the horizontal frame members 56Aand 56B (not shown), 58A and 58B or 60A and 60B. The sliding mechanism82 can comprise any conventional slider arrangement having a fixedportion 86 which can be attached to the horizontal frame members 56A and56B, 58A and 58B or 60A and 60B and a slider portion 88 which isslideably engaged with the fixed portion 86 and attached to theunderside 84 of the shelf 74.

As shown in FIG. 9, the shelf 74 can also comprise a circular recessedarea 90 structured and arranged to at least partially receive an articleand/or an article housing within the recessed area 90. Articles andarticle housings can be adapted to contain a protrusion structured tomate with the recessed area 90 of the shelf 74 such that the articlesand/or article housings do not slide on the shelves 74 once positionedwithin the vertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 of the rack 20.

The shelf 74 can be horizontally slideable from an extended position atleast partially positioned outside the rack, as shown in FIGS. 9-11, toa retracted position within the rack 20, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

As shown in FIG. 10, an article housing 92, such as an equipment casing,rests on an article shelf 93 which has a disk-shaped projection (notshown) which can be positioned within the circular recessed area 90(shown in FIG. 9) of the shelf 74 when the sliding mechanisms 82 areextended outside the rack 20.

As shown in FIG. 11, once an article and/or article housing 92 and thearticle shelf 93 are positioned on the shelf 74 and/or within therecessed area of the shelf 74, the article 92 can be secured to theshelf 74 by straps 94 or the like and rotated within the recessed areaof the shelf 74 when the sliding mechanisms 82 are extended outside therack 20. As shown in FIG. 11, the shelf 74 can be configured to allow anarticle 92 to easily rotate with respect to the orientation of the shelf74.

As shown in FIG. 12, one or more shelves 74, optionally housing one ormore articles and/or article housings 92 can be positioned entirelywithin rack 20 by sliding the sliding mechanism from a positionextending outside the rack, shown in FIGS. 9-11, to a confined positionwithin the interior of the rack 20, shown in FIG. 12. As shown in FIG.13, multiple shelves 74 and articles and/or article housings 92 can bepositioned within the rack 20. In addition to being secured to the floor70, the rack 20 can optionally be secured to a vehicle wall 100 orceiling by additional fasteners 130 that connect portions of the rack 20to an installed rack grid 140.

As shown in FIG. 12, a fully expanded rack 20 including verticallyexpanded vertical support posts 22, 24, 26 and 28 and horizontallyexpanded horizontal frame members 56A and 56B, 58A and 58B, and 60A and60B houses an article and/or article housing 92 on a shelf 74 havingsliding mechanisms 82 positioned within the interior of the rack 20.Also shown in FIG. 12, a second expandable rack 120 of the presentinvention can be introduced into a confined space, such as on the floor70 on a vehicle as a transportable pallet mounted expandable rack system110. The transportable pallet mounted expandable rack system comprises apallet 96 and an expandable rack 120, at least one shelf 174, and atleast one article and/or article housing 192 mounted on the pallet 96.The pallet 96 can be carried in to a confined space or can be deliveredon a skid by mechanical means.

In the event a user desires to move the rack 20 to a second location,the articles and/or article housings 92 and shelves 74 can be removedfrom the rack 20, any horizontal locking mechanism(s) and/or verticallocking mechanism(s) can be disengaged, and the rack 20 can betransitioned from a horizontally and vertically expanded position to ahorizontal and vertically collapsed position.

Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been describedabove for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilledin the art that numerous variations of the details of the presentinvention may be made without departing from the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

1. An expandable rack structured and arranged to transition from acollapsed position to an extended position, comprising: a plurality ofsubstantially vertical support posts; and a plurality of foldablesubstantially horizontal frame members pivotally connected betweenadjacent substantially vertical support posts, wherein at least one ofthe foldable substantially horizontal frame members is moveable from acollapsed folded position adjacent to and substantially aligned with thevertical support posts to an extended unfolded position substantiallyperpendicular to the vertical support posts.
 2. The expandable rack ofclaim 1, wherein each of the foldable substantially horizontal framemembers comprises a hinge at a located between ends of the horizontalframe member.
 3. The expandable rack of claim 1, wherein the pluralityof substantially vertical support posts comprises a left front post, aright front post, a left rear post and a right rear post, and wherein atleast one of the plurality of substantially horizontal frame members ispivotally connected between the left from post and the right front post,at least one of the plurality of substantially horizontal frame membersis pivotally connected between the left front post and the left backpost, at least one of the plurality of substantially horizontal framemembers is pivotally connected between the right front post and theright back post, and at least one of the plurality of substantiallyhorizontal frame members is pivotally connected between the left backpost and the right back post.
 4. The expandable rack of claim 3, whereinthe rack can be transitioned from a collapsed position in which thefront vertical posts and the rear vertical posts are adjacent to eachother and the left vertical posts and the right vertical posts areadjacent to each other, and an extended position in which the frontvertical posts and the rear vertical posts are spaced apart from eachother and the left vertical posts and the right vertical posts arespaced apart from each other.
 5. The expandable rack of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of substantially horizontal frame members are upperhorizontal frame members and are pivotally connected between adjacentvertical support posts at upper ends of the vertical support posts. 6.The expandable rack of claim 5, wherein the plurality of substantiallyhorizontal frame members are middle horizontal frame members and arepivotally connected between adjacent vertical support posts at alocation along the vertical support posts between the upper horizontalframe members and the lower horizontal frame members.
 7. The expandablerack of claim 1, wherein the plurality of substantially horizontal framemembers are lower horizontal frame members and are pivotally connectedbetween adjacent vertical support posts at lower ends of the verticalsupport posts.
 8. The expandable rack of claim 1, wherein the pluralityof substantially horizontal frame members comprises: a plurality ofupper horizontal frame members pivotally connected between adjacentvertical support posts at upper ends of the vertical support posts; anda plurality of lower horizontal frame members pivotally connectedbetween adjacent vertical support posts at lower ends of the verticalsupport posts.
 9. The expandable rack of claim 8, wherein the upperhorizontal frame members pivot in a downward direction in the collapsedfolded position and the lower horizontal frame members pivot in anupward direction in the collapsed folded position.
 10. The expandablerack of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of middle horizontalframe members pivotally connected between adjacent vertical supportposts at locations along the vertical support posts between the upperhorizontal frame members and the lower horizontal frame members.
 11. Theexpandable rack of claim 10, wherein the plurality of vertical supportposts comprises a left front post, a right front post, a left rear post,and a right rear post, and wherein at least one of the middle horizontalframe members is pivotally connected between the left front post and theleft back post, at least one of the middle horizontal frame members ispivotally connected between the right front post and the right backpost, and at least one of the middle horizontal frame members ispivotally connected between the left back post and the right back post.12. The expandable rack of claim 10, wherein the middle horizontal framemembers pivot in a downward direction in the collapsed folded position.13. The expandable rack of claim 1, wherein at least one of theplurality of vertical support posts is telescopes from a verticallycollapsed position to a vertically extended position.
 14. The expandablerack of claim 1, wherein the plurality of substantially vertical supportposts are pivotally connected to the plurality of foldable substantiallyhorizontal frame members by locking fasteners.
 15. The expandable rackof claim 1, wherein at least one of the substantially vertical supportposts has a lower end that is engageable with a floor fastener.
 16. Theexpandable rack of claim 1, further comprising at least one shelfremoveably engageable with the plurality of vertical support postsand/or horizontal frame members.
 17. The expandable rack of claim 16,wherein the shelf is adjustable vertically along the plurality ofvertical support posts.
 18. The expandable rack of claim 16, wherein theshelf is horizontally slideable from a retracted position within therack to an extended position at least partially positioned outside therack.
 19. The expandable rack of claim 16, wherein the shelf isstructured and arranged to support an article and/or an article housing.20. The expandable rack of claim 1, wherein the rack is portable. 21.The expandable rack of claim 1, wherein the rack is attached to avehicle.
 22. A transportable pallet mounted expandable rack system fordeployment in a vehicle comprising: a pallet; and an expandable rackremoveably mounted on the pallet, the rack comprising: a plurality ofsubstantially vertical support posts; and a plurality of foldablesubstantially horizontal frame members pivotally connected betweenadjacent substantially vertical support posts, wherein at least one ofthe foldable substantially horizontal frame members is moveable from acollapsed folded position adjacent to and substantially aligned with thevertical support posts to an extended unfolded position substantiallyperpendicular to the vertical support posts.
 23. A method of deployingan expandable rack within a vehicle, comprising the steps of: providingan expandable rack in a collapsed position within a vehicle interior,the expandable rack comprising: a plurality of substantially verticalsupport posts; and a plurality of foldable substantially horizontalframe members pivotally connected between adjacent substantiallyvertical support posts, wherein at least one of the foldablesubstantially horizontal frame members is moveable from a collapsedfolded position adjacent to and substantially aligned with the verticalsupport posts to an extended unfolded position substantiallyperpendicular to the vertical support posts; transitioning theexpandable rack from the collapsed folded position to an extendedunfolded position; and securing the rack to the interior of the vehicle.